CostIndexUSA

Honolulu, HI vs New Orleans, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

HI
Honolulu
100
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableLA
New Orleans
92.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

New Orleans is moderately cheaper than Honolulu — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Honolulu, you would need $74,100 in New Orleans. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.0%
Honolulu
100
New Orleans
86
🛒 Groceries6.3%
Honolulu
100
New Orleans
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Honolulu
100
New Orleans
100.5
🏥 Healthcare9.1%
Honolulu
100
New Orleans
90.9
Utilities28.8%
Honolulu
100
New Orleans
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Honolulu to see what you'd need to earn in New Orleans to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in New Orleans, LA
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in New Orleans

Formula: salary × (92.6 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9260. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Honolulu, HI

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
100
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

New Orleans, LA

Median Home Price
$253,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
86
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

Honolulu has 14.0% lower housing costs compared to New Orleans.

Income & Job Market

Honolulu, HI

Median Household Income
$75,000
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
350,964
Top Industries
TourismMilitaryHealthcareGovernmentRetail

New Orleans, LA

Median Household Income
$61,000
Per Capita Income
$34,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
383,997
Top Industries
TourismEnergyHealthcareShippingEntertainment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Honolulu, HI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

New Orleans, LA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.